Vending machine



July 7, 1942- w( A. HARRIS 2,289,325

VENDING' MACHINE Filed May 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet `l Tia l a WWW/M lI//l//l/l/ mvawrog July 7, 1942. `W, A ARRIS 42,289,325

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1942, w. A. HARRIS VENDING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheerl 3 W12/n m/llaw'ravls.

Man/mm fu/ Cttrn h July 7, 1942.

n w. A. HARRIS 2,289,325

`VEND1NG MACHINE Filed My 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 :Summer ZI/Zam a.

July 7, 1942. w. A. HARRIS IVENDNG MACHINE Filed May 24, 1941 5 `sheets-sheet 5 Bnventor 20min/HH@ Trs accommodate a large portion'rof the Y purchasing .public which is interestedr only` in -buying single but it is readily conceivable that cartons con-**2 `arette from the original package, delivering the@ Patented July 7, 1942 .UNisTlED STATES YeA-Tclwr oFFicE 'VENDING MACHINE Wiiliam`A. Harris, Greenville, S. C. WApplicationliiay 24, 1941, Serial No. 395,104 24 claims. .(Ci. 312476) This invention -relates to -improvements 'in vending machines, particularly being adapted to vending single cigarettes, one at a timeA insuccessive individual vending operations, so -as to cigarettes rather'than entirepackages of Icigarettes. Although reference is herein made to the vending of cigarettes it is to be understood that the principles of 'the invention are applicable to@ F10 vending equivalents of cigarettes, for example, cigars.

`In contriving thevinstant machine, primary consideration was giverr to enablingl the vending of the tobacco product Adirectly from a statutory-f package so that the only necessity encumbent upon`the-possessor vof the machine -is to break the customary internal revenue stamp andv insert the carton into themachine after first having`` lining papersand having inserted a separator betweenthe rows 4of cigarettes to avoid friction between contiguous ends. Theparticular `carton here in mind is the typecontaining 50 cigarettes,

taining more or less cigarettescould be used in conjunction with the machine because noalteration of principle would thereby be involved.

In furtherance of the foregoing primaryconsideration the machine embodies what is herein known asa fingergrip,` so'called because of its close simulation of the'actjof the human fingers `in` abstracting a cigarette, from a carton, said finger grip providing for a direct feed of the cigcigarette -to a point of access after certain releases have been accomplished in the mechanism by the insertion of va coin.

VThe foregoing considerations are inf compliance with Federal statutes which relate toy the-IAO vending of tobacco products from the original statutory packages, which statutes further relquire making the packageplainly visible both from the front and back so that the purchaser on the one hand can see the product which her-545 intends buying and that other interested persons 'on the other hand may have an unobstructed view of the usual factory' notice on the back of the package. With this preamble in mind the objects rof the invention are as follows: 5i)

First, to provide a vending machine which is contrived to vend single cigarettes or their tobacco equivalents, one at a time as the result of individual vending operations.

Second, to provide such a machinewhich is 5o t quent release;'so-thatdelivery 'caribe made to the purchaser who;` 'necessarily required to insert a coin.

Third, to provide a vending machine with supportssoarranged as to 'disposethe carton and lid `at'thelloest possible :angles to supply a clear and unobstructed view-of the cigarettes through a glass panel in front ofthe machine and a clear andfun'obstructed View of the customaryfactory notice onthewbottom ofthe carton through a f glass panel in back of the machine.

`Fourth, to `provide a linger grip device which has provisions for yielding to an -idle depression of the hand levergthereby dissipating the force u ""of suchfidlefdepressionwhich might otherwise removed from beneath the cigarettes the usual'h20' harm the 4-mechanism.

.lifth, to providea` finger grip device which cannot'be made to act' twice in the same dispensing operation with the View to attempting to abstract 'more than one cigarette for a single coin.

Sixth, to `provide a .self-embodied finger grip Tde'vicewhi'ch is selectively Ymovable into its operating position infront of any chosen row of cigarettes.

"Seventh, to providea device requiring the levcling of' the'machine" before it can be operated,

the accompanying drawings, in which:

FigureA 1 is a perspective view of the improved vending machine.

nFigure 2 is a front elevation o f the vending mechanism, the latter having been removed from the housing shown in Fig'. l.

[Figure 3 is a fractional side elevation showing 'the Vending mechanism of Fig. 2 in its normally static position and as seen from the right in said Fig. 2'. p t l K' Figure 4 is a detail cross section taken on the 'line 4 4 of Fig. l andparticularly illustrating the finger gripdevice also in itsnormally static position.

Figure 5 is a plan View ofthe finger grip-device. Figure 6 is a sectional view on the ordervof Fig.

`4,j illustratingk the movements occurring in the `finger grip device during a true dispensing operation.

vFigure 7 is aview similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the movements occurring in the nger grip device during a false or idle operation.

Figure 8 is a detail view of what is herein known as the detent mechanism, illustrating the change in position of the parts in comparison with Fig. 3 when a coin strikes the end of the coin lever.

Figure 9 is a similar view illustrating the action during the subsequent dispensing operation and agreeing with Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken on the line III- I of Fig. 2.

Figure l1 is a cross section taken on the line II-II of Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken onrthe line I2-I2 of Fig. 3.

Figure 13 is a horizontal section taken on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 3.

Figure 14 is a detail section of the level insuring device, taken on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 15, is a detail section taken on the line I -I5 of Fig. 12.`

Figure 16 isa detail horizontal section taken on the line IG-I 6 of Fig. 3.

Figure 17 is a detail perspective view of one of the separators hereinafter referred to.

Figure 18 is a vertical section taken on I8.I8,of Fig..3.

Incarrying outthe invention the vending machine, generally designated I, appearssubstantially as shown in Fig. 1. There is no necessity for adhering precisely to the configuration of the housing 2 because this can be `varied to suit individual desires, but from the standpoint of effectively containing the vending mechanism 3 (Fig. 2) said housing does serve the purpose and is intended to be adhered to. Said housing includes an erect frontwall 4 which is relatively short when compared with the height of the housing, said front wall merging into a pitched wall 5 which, because of `its inclination, affords the best possible y view of the interior of the housing through the front glass panel 6.

the une ing through which the mechanism 3 can be abstracted when adjustments are required, and when it becomes necessary to substitute the packages 'I, 8, with fresh ones.

In addition to the necessary openings for the coin receiver plate I3 and the coin return trough I4 the housing 2 has a pair of longitudinal openings I5, I6. These openings occur in the front wall 4. The top opening I5 is shielded in part by a plate I'I which covers the bottom of the opening. This plate is bent down on the inside where it is secured. On the outside it carries a series of upstanding flanges I8. These flanges are bent up from the outer edge of the plate I'I, their pur pose being to demarcate spaces I9 to which the operation of a hand lever 2U is conned.

These flanges stop short of the top of the opening I5 to leave spaces 2| in which the hand lever can be slid from one dispensing position to another. However, the depth of the spaces 2I is very slight so that very little motion can result if the hand lever 23 is ever depressed while in position over one of the flanges I8. The corners of the latter are rounded at 22 so that the lever 20 may readily glance off should the vendee have failed to exercise care in bringing the hand lever to its proper working position in the selected space I9.

In matching positions below the flanges IS are forwardly extending members 23 which are bent from a plate 24 which is attached on front of the wall 4. These members have lips 25 which guard against the dropping of the cigarettes when The vending mechanism 3 is contrived to accommodate vtwo packages 1, 8 of cigarettes. These particular packages may consist either of metal boxes or paper cartons. ,They are respectively supplied with lids 9, ID which are intended to be swung open and held there in the machine so as to fully reveal the cigarettes II which arev intendedmto be vended.- These particular packagees are of the type which are marketed with fifty cigarettes each. As far as the principles of the machine are concerned, the accommodation may be for less or more than the two packages shown, and the packages themselves may contain less or more than fty cigarettes each.

As appears farther on in the description, the packages 'I are set at an angle to substantially match the pitch of the wall 5. There is no need of a precise match as long as the packages 1, 8 are so set as to be in full and clear view. This emplacement of the packages 1 and 8 involves another important consideration. The prevailing practice is to market each package of cigarettes with a factory notice. This notice is generally printed on the bottom of the package, and it is a requirement of the law that this notice shall be in full View as well as the cigarettes and also substantial portions of the revenue stamp I 2. In order that the factory notice may be seen provision is made in back of the housing 2 of a removable closure with a glass panel. Said closure is omitted herein but the reader will understand that in practice it is fitted in a back open- Aserted at the slot in the plate I3 (Fig. l).

the latter roll out of the bottom opening IG in bridging positions across the spaces 26 between the members 23. The reason for having the cigarettes to roll out so that they bridge the space between any two of the members 23 is to afford the vendee a ready finger hold upon the cigarette. He will simply reach into the requisite space 26 with his thumb and foreflnger and thus lift the cigarette from its resting place against the back of the lips 25.

The vending mechanism 3 embodies all of the mechanical structure necessary to the dispensation of single cigarettes in response to the manual manipulation of the hand lever 28 after a coin of the required denomination has been in- The invention is not concerned with any specific coin control and for that reason the details have been omitted. The invention is concerned mainly with the specific vending or dispensing mechanism and in that respect attention is first directed to Fig. 2. Here a base plate 21 is shown to comprise the foundation for a pair of end plates 28, 29. Each of these plates includes a bottom right angled flange 30 which when affixed to the base plate as by means of bolts and nuts 3l supports the respective end plate in a perfectly erect position.

Both plates 28, 29 are generally alike in outline. The plate 28, however, is herein chosen to carry the control mechanism and for that reason may have holes here and there which are not required in the plate 29. Said plate 28 is the carrier of a coin control which in practice is emplaced at 32 (Fig. 3) and also of the detent mechanism 33 appearing especially in Figs. 8 and 9. Reverting to Fig. 2, provision is made of a pair of angles 34 on which the lids 9, I@ are rested. It is these angles which hold the lids open far enough to fully reveal the contents of the packages 1, 8.

One of these angles is shown in detail in Fig.

bent portion 4l.

10. It is slotted at 35 to receive the bolt .36 which goes through the respective 'endf'plate which in this case is the"plat\29.= A nut31 on the bolt serves to clamp the angle-34 in: that position wherein the 'lid' 9: is Asupported as Vdesired. The packages 1, Bare emplaced upon a tray'SS. This tray is removable fromthe` mechanism 3 merely bysliding it' up4 and out-'at the back, although under ordinaryl circumstances there is no necessity for ever removing it.

Said tray comprises a metal plate which is flanged down at' 39 along' the upper: and back edge, and is hanged up atfll!) along the lower and front edge. Saidflange 49' has a forwardly This portion -is desirable from the standpointV of frustratingthe remote possibility of an attempt to'reach into the machine through the bottom vopening 46 with axfwire and thus working-out'one ormore of the cigarettes. 'The flange` portion 4|` makes this virtually impossible.

At each of its ends the tray is bent up at 42 (Fig. 1l). The top edge of each end'42 is bent twice to form a rabbet 43 (Fig. 1l). These rabbets provide rests for the ends of a glass pane 44 which is laid on chieily toprevent the cigarettes from tumbling forwardly, it being remembered that the packages are set at an angle. This angle is approximatelyv 45 and were it not for the covering pane 44 there is the possibility that some of the cigarettes might bucklev out of their row position.

The bottom edge of the pane 44 is seated in hooks 45 which are formed by.` curling back portions of the rabbets 43. VThese hooks Occur a slight distance above the flange 40, thereby being responsible for deninganopening 46 (Figs. 6 and 10) between saidflange and the bottom edge of the covering pane 44. In some instances a filler 41 is emplaced on the tray 38. This filler elevates the cigarette package a Very slight distance. Said filler is used in cases where the package 1, 8, has only a single depth of cigarettes instead of two layers as in Fig. 6. The ller 41 includes afront flange 48, but since the metal of which the filler 41 is there will not be any obstruction to the reaching in of the gripper for which purpose the opening 46 is fundamentally intended.

Angled cleats 49 (Figs. 10 and 11) arev adjust-.

ably attached to the end plates 28,329as at i) to provide the support for the tray 3S. Each of these cleats terminatesin a lug 5| at theA front and bottom. Thetray 38 is slid in between the end plates 28, 29 with a tted in place it rests against the lugs 5|. The flange 39 also rests againstv the tops of the cleats 43 thereby insuring a hrm emplacement of the tray. When the packages 1, 8, are required to be replaced it is only necessary to reach in through,

the open `back of the housing 2 without having either to'remcve the dispensing mechanisms or the tray 38.

The entrance 52 (Figs. 6 and 10) of a discharge chute 53 is stationed immediately' below and.

slightly to theback of the free edge of the bent portion 4l. 'I'he chute passage is'directed backwardly at 54 rather sharply from the entrance 52, partly to aid in the foregoing frustration of attempting the unauthorized abstraction of cig-y arettes. However, the backward pitch at 54is of more importance from the standpoint that it is lined vup more or less directly with the angle of discharge (arrow a, Figi 6) of the bought cigarette. The chute;

made is not very thickV fairly tight fit and when..

53 communicates with an opening55. in aY front plate 56. Said opening 55 .isz iin' registration with the .bottom opening 'I 6 f inthe front Wall 4 (Fig. 1), and 'when a cigaf rolls out of the openingV I6 to across the .space 26 between a Each plate. has IiangesA 59,?

handle may readily `glance ofi" in rette is discharged into the chute 53 it presently a resting. position pair ofthe members 23.

Plates 51,- 53define theichute 53';Y 54 'and its entrance 52. `They are provided with sharply angledbends to deinethe desired chute passage. which'are secured at 6| to the respective end' plates-128,129. front plate 56 (Fig.`2) has some of the characteristics of the front wall 4 of the housing 2. The opening 55 is elongated- .to match the bottom opening I 6. It has a second elongated opening 62 to match the longitudinal top opening l5. Said opening 62 also has? upstanding kflanges 63, matching the anges I8, .and the former demarcate spaces 64 in which a full fdepression of the hand lever 25 may behad. The narrow spaces 65 allow` only-for thersliding of the handle 2i] from one position to the next. The corners 56 oil theiilanges` 63 are rounded vso that the the event of having been positioned out of center in the chosen space 64.

f Flanges61 `arebent back fromthe front plate 156 and -are Ymade to nt fairly-tightly on the inside between the end plates 28, 29. There said plate 56 is secured by screws 68 which are driven through the end plates and usually all of the flanges 61. In `practice the front vplate 56 is desirably made quite rigid. For this purpose it is reinforced longitudinally by a bar 69 (Fig. 2) and is equipped withend reinforcements shown at L19 (Figs. 2 and 10). At least one end of the plate 56' is extended at `1| (Fig. 2) and is cut under at 12 to define a part of the outlet of a coin returnv chute 13 (Fig. 3). This chute has no concern with the instant invention, and it can `be dismissed by stating that its lower end registers with the opening of the trough I4 (Fig. 1) and that its upper end communicates with a portion 14 (Fig. 3) of the mechanism to be regarded as emplaced at 32.

ImmediatelyV belowsaid mechanism and to the rear of the portion 14 (Fig. 3) there is a guide 15 (Figs. 3 and 15) for the free end16 (Fig. 12) of a coin lever 11. The guide 15 consists'mainly of a pair of substantially matching bent plates serted in the opening of nally of the vending mechanism 3 (Fig. 2).

'55, 19 which, when fastened ata() to the end plate 28 dene a very narrow passage 8|. This passage is only a little wider than the free end 16 is thick, land only wide enough to provide free clearance for the coin 82 (Fig. 8). Said coin drops into the passage 8l after having been inthe plate I3 (Fig. l), whereupon it displaces the coin lever 11 from its normally substantially horizontal position (Fig. 3) to release the finger grip device 83 (Figs. 4 and 5) for the immediately succeeding operation.

Said finger grip device 83 is a unit. It is selectively slidable as such upon a pair of Vshafts 84, 85 (Fig. 4). These shafts extend longitudi- They are non-circular in cross section excepting at their extremities where they are rounded at 86 (Figs. 2 and 13) to providetrunnions. Said shafts could be made round all the Wayand the lingerl grip device 83 splined in position. However, it is mechanically simpler". to use crosssectionally square rods and tc turn 4down the ends to form the trunnions.

Said shafts 84, 85, occupy a common horizontal plane (Fig. 4). The end trunnions 85 thereof are turnably supported by the end plates 28, 29. Actual bearing for the rear shaft 84 occurs directly in the plate 28 at the right end and in a bearing plate 81 (Fig. 10) at the left end. This bearing plate is rigidly secured at 88 and the reason for its use is to accommodate the insertion of the right end of the shaft 84 in a hole 89 (Fig. 13) in the end plate 28 and then the dropping of the trunnion at the other end in a slot 98 (Fig. 10) in the plate 29 where the bearing is completed by means of the plate 81.

The front shaft 85 is provided with special bearings 9|, 92 (Fig. 2) for its trunnions 85. These are secured at 93 to the end plates 28, 29 over slots 94 through which said trunnions are inserted to their bearing positions. The right trunnon end of the shaft 84 (Fig. 13) has a dog 95. Said dog has a recess 98 (Fig. 8) defining a tooth 91 with which the end 98 of the coin lever 11 is abuttable (Fig. 3) to prevent the clockwise turning of the shaft 84 which, as appears below, is necessary for the inward movement of the gripper to abstract a cigarette. Thus it is by the occupancy of the recess 98 by the end 98 (Fig. 3) that the dispensing mechanism is locked in its static position. Conversely, the mechanism is unlocked for a Vending operation by the dropping of the coin 82 (Fig. 8) against the free end 18 of the coin lever 11, by which act the end 98 is raised from the recess 98 thereby freeing the shaft 84 for the turning required to bring the gripper to the position in Fig. 6.

Said dog 95 is rigidly secured to the trunnion 86 (Fig. 13) by a screw 99 (Fig. 8) or any preferred equivalent. A link |88 is pivoted at one end on the dog 95 by means of a pin |8| (Fig. 16). Said pin is fixed in the dog in a projecting position. The link |88 is then slipped over the pin and a retaining clip |82, secured to the dog 95 at |83 so as to overlap the free end of the pin, holds the link |88 from slipping off. The other end |84 of the link |88 (Fig. 8) is slidable in a guide |85. This guide is firmly aixed to the plate 28 in such a position that said end |84 may act as a pusher against the angled extension |88 of a detent |81. This is the coin lever detent and it has a shoulder |88 which coacts with a stud |89 on the coin lever 11.

The detent |81 is loosely hung from a pivot ||8 on the side of the plate 28. It is intended to gravitate against the stud |89. For this purpose the pivot ||8 is centered slightly forwardly of the stud |89 so that the detent |81 always hangs at a slight angle in a resting position against the stud |09. The latter occupies the base of the shoulder |88 in the static position of the dispensing mechanism (Fig. 3). The downward displacement of the lever 11 under the weight of the coin 82 (Fig. 8) swings the detent |81 aside. The stud |89 will then register with the shoulder |88 and by that means to lock the coin lever 11 in its position of retraction with respect to the dog 95. The vendee may then at his leisure actuate the hand lever 28 for the dispensing operation. The coin lever 11 is held free from the dog 95 until the vendee does depress the hand lever.

It is not until the vending operation is thus begun that there is any chance of the coin lever returning to its locked position against the dog 95 and thus frustrating the sale. The depression of the hand lever 28 rocks the shaft 84 clockwise as has been stated. The accompanying clockwise turn of the dog 95 moves the link |88 backwardly in its guide (Fig. 9). It is by this act'that the pusher end |84 of the link |88 displaces the detent |81 to the right by making engagement with its extension |85. The shoulder |88 is thus moved away from the pin |89. This again releases the coin lever 11 but said lever is capable of only gravitating to a resting position on top of the tooth 91, it being remembered that as yet the dog stands in its displaced position in Fig. 9.

A pin l2, projecting from the side of the plate 28 (Fig. 8) limits the tilting of the coin lever 11 under the weight of the coin 82. Said coin then rolls off of the end 16 into a coin box below, there being a guard ||3 at the back (Fig. 12) to insure the dropping of the coin as intended. A weight ||l| (Figs. 3 and 8) is responsible for the gravitation of the end 88 of the coin lever toward the dog 95. The lever end 98 is made considerably broader than the lever 11 (Fig. l2) partly to match the thickness of the dog 95 and partly to provide an adequate rest for the weight ||4. The latter is seated in the corner between the end 98 and an upstanding part ||5 of the lever 11. It is into said part that a screw ||8 is driven through a slot ||1 in the weight. The weight ||4 is adjusted to overbalance the lever 11 toward the left, thereby insuring its gravitation toward the dog 95 both normally (Fig. 3) and upon the release of the stud |89 by the detent |81 during a vending operation (Fig. 9).

A hub ||8 (Fig. 12) on the coin lever 11 is seated on a pin ||9 (Fig. 18) which provides the pivot. Said pin projects from the end plate 28. The hub ||8 is simply slipped in place on the pin where it is retained by a clip |28. Said clip is aflixed at |2| to the plate 28 and its free end simply overlaps the hub |8.

At this point reference is made to the previously mentioned level insuring device |22 (Fig. 3). This device consists of a weight |23 which is pivoted at |24 to a standard |25. The inner bottom corner |26 of this weight clears the forward top corner |21 of the weight H4 as long as the machine stands level. If the machine is tilted backwardly to any appreciable extent the resultant swinging of the weight |23 in the direction of arrow b (Fig. 3) will dispose the corner |28 over the corner |21. The weight |23 will thus be in the path of the weight |4 and will thus obstruct the turning movement of the coin lever 11 in a vending operation prior to the clearance of the tooth 91. by the lever end 98. A stop |28 on the forward side of the weight |23 is adapted to engage the standard |25 and limit the swinging of the weight |23 in the direction of arrow b.

Said standard |25 is attached at |29 to a support |38 which is part of a structure that is shown herein although it has no immediate concern with the invention. Said structure includes a lever |3| which is pivoted at |32 to said support, the latter being axed at |33 to the end plate 28 (Fig. 14). At its upper end said lever |3| has a spring |34 connected to it, said spring serving to actuate a part of the coin control (not shown). The lever |3| is rocked by a crank |35 on the right end of the forward shaft 85. Said crank has a pin |35 which works in the slotted end |31 of the lever |3i.

Reference is next made to the finger grip device 83 (Fig. 4). This device is covered in part by a guard |38 which is bent inwardly and downwardly from the top of the previously described front plate 58. The nger grip device 83 is manually slidable on both shafts 84,. 85-as aunit.- ltsU slider |39on `the shaft.84.is intheform ofa 4U.`

Thearms 45 of the U are directed forwardly and downwardly. The spaceY between rthe l free ends of said arms -is `bridged by fa pin I4! which is fixed at its ends in said arms (Fgx) The slider |39 has a stout bracket |42 (Fig. 4)l `centered on-it.

Said bracket functionally-.is an vintegral .part

of the slider |39. It is variouslybentin order- -to stationI its free-end |43 in `correct relationshipto the rest of the linger grip-device. Said free end comprises the -mount for the gripper |44 The gripper is made of spring metal.-

(Fig. 4). It is doubled upon-itself andsecured at |45 :tothe mount v|43 bymeans of a boltv and nut |469 Thence it is archedat- |41, andthe -arch consisting of two normally closely contacting `leaves which separate )but slightly whenthev cigaretteis initially gripped. The free ends ofl'theileaves are reversely bent to comprise a fork |48, Athe tines of which suggest the 4thumb-and fore-'linger ofa human hand. The act-of thelatter in picking up a cigarette is simulated byfthe fork. Said fork denes a cavity |749 in which the cigarette is received.

In `forming the iorkAsli-ghtrestrictions |55 are -1 These restrictions cigarette to hold it. A tight grip is not required because the usual balancing in position` of the cigarette centrally (or substantially so) ofthe fork is adequate to support it in position prior to being discharged from the machine.

A slider |52,`similar to |39,is carried by the front shaft 85. The hand lever2|| is made integral with this slider, and because of `the connections between the two sliders |52,` |39, the

finger-grip device 33 is capable of being lslidV along the shafts 84,165 asa unit. The slider |52 has arms |53 which make the actual slidingpengagement with the shaft 35. The slider |52V is also in the form of a U, and the arms of the two sliders are directed downwardly toward each other as shown in Fig. 4. A pivot pin |54 connects the yoke |55 of a pusher |55 with the arms |53 of the slider |52.

The yoke `|55 bridges the distance between side members |l which at the front have downward extensions |58 in the ends of which a pin |59 is set. The ends of this pin project at-ISQ (Fig. 5), and provide the mounts for the -forward ends of springs lill, the rear ends of which are hooked onto studs |32 which project from `the free extremities of the arms 53. The springs |6| exercise a contracting force on the arms |53 and extensions |58, tending to swing the two toward each other (arrows c and d, Fig. 4) upon'the pivot pin |54. This tendency to swing is limited by the engagement of the arms |53 with stops |53 on the sides of the-members |57;

Under normal conditions, that is to say when the dispensing mechanism is in its static condition, the arms |53 are held in 4position against the stops |63. The springs IBI allowanidle depression of Vthe hand lever to its full extent` in any one of the spaces 64 (Fig, 2) ,l suc-h asmay be. expectedV when .themachine is made. available tofamore orn less curious public. It is only vunder such .a circumstance that the springs IBI zyield. Therefore the -purposeof these springs is to dis- 5 sipateLtheforce-of-a false kor idleoperation of the* leveri20,."preventing its transmission-to the vital parts fof. theLnger-g-r-ipdevice.

The .foregoingsidemembers |51 have upwardly extending arms 1| 64.* which have.Y elbows |65 lOl-(provided` .witlr-slotsfelly These Yslots register crosswise .of. .the machineA and they are occupied l inepart by .thepin- |41` ofthe slider .|394A Said l pin has only a .slight amount :off idle movement.- in the slots |63 because in practice the coin lever l 15..;end 93` does not fit quite -tig'htlyagainst the tooth Si: i Int practice .thereis a v.little space between the .-two,l andit1 .is.the extent .of this `space which determinesltheamount ofidle :movement )of the pin. |4'|. `in the .slots |665r According to. the .draw- 20; .ingwherein the coin lever end Salis shown nti-.ed

snugly.againstcthetooth Q1. `there canbe-no idle. movement-ofthe -pin.-|4|. in sadslots.. There-` fore` .theimmediate-response -to an idle=depresy sion. of..` the .lever .20.l is .afmeldingof. the usprings -|6|" toltheffulhextent of depressionbf the-lever 20 if need be, the only effect upon the-pusher 55 bei-ng a -slightrocking wthereof.- upon 'the pin |4|. in `response: tofthefraising of the .pivot pin 201m It is .at the virtual extremitieslof. the arms |64 that :the actual.` pushing-act. occurs. Here the arms .|64 haveH-a-.pair' of-tines-.ISL |68 standing.

inlflaringrelationship to the Aarms 64i-and defininga crotch` |69 with which the cigarette is .abute .'l5.r.table -to .cause its-releaseirom. the gripper |44. Theatines :|61 are .directed-toward. the `opening 461and areahigh `enough to..avoid..any possible interference-with the `abstraction-of the cigarette at the-opening 46.AH The tines |68 `permanently l .401.: .delineate-l aA` substantialcontinuation of the l pitchedportionm 5410i .the-discharge- `chute 53.. They-thus-constitutela guard=down-which the v.

cigarette is adapted vto roll .(-arrowa,.Fig. 6).

When the..-Iingergrip device 83 .functions for swing as-l-avunit (ar-row,` Fig. 4).'1` The-shaft 85 gether. In Athis yswinging i -the4 slots 65 *(liiig;U 4)

|39 is 1 thus turned in the direction. of arrow .i

(Fig. 6), andsinceit lis `thisslider-'which carries the gripper |44 it follows that the latter-is swung through the-opening-ll1.(Fig.=6)into the package 1 i-norder vto gripthe nearest cigarette Itis usual \inpackages of theparticular kind herein contemplated to supply tworowsof cig- 1 arettes` as seen-invFigsfl andf2. In orde-r to-avoid any possible interference' withn the working of a separator |'||l"'(Fig. `1'7). This separator is in thev VformV of a T.A It :comprisesal cross member 70, whichm is emp1acedlongitudinally Vofthe packagerl,l 8; the-pendent blade |12'then 'functioning as a divider between *thev two rows. The

endstof the cigarettes-thus have Aa smooth metal at the opening 46,

the dispensation 4of a cigarettatat which time the` dogmi 4*is Vreleased fromI the detent mechal nism 33 in Fig. 8,-the -slider.-|52.-and pusher |56.

exercise a eamactionlon the vpin 1|4| i1 The slider theggripper IML-which lmight ber-occasioned4 by' the frictions between fthe-adjoiningends Vof` the cigarettes in Ithe two rows use ismadeofv contact: which `makes it .easy to abstract' them Reverting to the working of the finger-grip device 83 reference is made to Fig.A 10 which shows the means for returning said device to its starting position after hand pressure is released from the lever 29. Said means comprises a stout spring |13 which is anchored at one end to `an adjustable cleat |14 on the side of the end plate 29. The other end of the spring is attached to a pin which projects from the trunnion 86 of the rear shaft 84. The spring |13 draws the pin |15 against a stop |16. This stop is adjustable at |11, and the position `of adjustment of said stop determines the relationship of the tooth 91 to the coin lever end 98 (Fig. 8).

It is readily seen that the tooth 91 can be set closer to said end 98 Vby adjusting the stop |16 in the downward direction (Fig. 10), assuming for the purpose of this illustration that there is an undesirable amount of spacing between said tooth 91 and the end 98. If the stop |16 is set low enough, which in fact it is according to these drawings, the tooth 91 will be directly against the end 98 although necessarily with enough clearance to enable the easy displacement of the coin lever 11 under the weight of the coin 82.

In conclusion reference is again made to the glass panel 44. This it will be remembered is intended to hold the cigarettes from tumbling out. In order to sustain said pane with a degree of resilience as well as to exert some pressure on it from underneath so as to maintain a good contact with the hooks 45, the rabbets 43 are equipped with spring cleats |18 (Figs. 10 and 1l). These are long leaves which are centrally fixed at |19. The ends thereof are free to exercise their spring action against the glass pane.

The operation is readily understood. The static position of the dispensing mechanism 3 appears in each of Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 4 particularly shows the initial position vof the fingergrip device 83, while Fig. 3 illustrates the initial position of the detent mechanism 33. As has been explained in detail, an idle depression of the hand lever 28 cannot cause any injury to the mechanism because the force then expended is dissipated in the springs |6|.

This is readily seen by comparing Figs. 4 and '1. In Fig. 4 the parts are shown in the initial position in full lines. In Fig. '1 the same position is indicated in dotted lines. The change in position upon an idle depression of the lever (arrow j, Fig. '1) is shown in full lines. The slider arms |53 and the extensions |58 of the members |51 are swung away from each other. This stretches the springs |6|. The pivot |54 has been raised, the result being a slight forward swinging of the pusher |56.

Upon dropping a` coin into the mechanism there will be a displacement of the coin lever 11 from the position in Fig. 3 to the position in Fig. 8. Previously to this both shafts 84 and 85 were locked from turning by the engagement of the tooth 91 of the dog 95 by the end 98 of the lever 11. The striking of the free end 16 by the coin 82 lowers the lever 11 so that the stud |09 becomes engaged with the nether side of the shoulder |08 (Fig. 8). The detent |01 is displaced by the riding of the stud |09 across the shoulder. The detent |01 thus locks the end 98 in its elevated position (Fig. 8) until the vendee is ready to press down on the lever 20.

In doing so (arrow 1c, Fig. 6) the finger grip device is swung from the dotted line Vposition g to the full line position h. The position g matches the showing in Fig. 4. The gripper |44 is swung toward the supply of cigarettes, entering the opening 46 (Fig. 6) By virtue of the rev strictions |50 being closer together than the cigarette is large in diameter, the initial gripping act is accompanied by a slight separation of the arched leaves |41 (Fig. 6).

In practice the cigarette may be withdrawn under the exercise of a slight amount of tension of the fork |48 against its sides. This would occur in the event of the gripper |44 not being pushed all the way down into the package 1. More often the cigarette will become fully seated in the cavity |49. In an event the cigarette will be held by the gripper |44 substantially centrally of its length and upon letting up on the hand lever 20 the spring |13 (Fig. 10) tends to restore the parts to their former position.

It is then that the dispensing act is completed. The slider |52 will turn clockwise and the slider |39 counterclockwise. The slider |52 and pusher |56 turn as a unit. Consequently the crotch |69 approaches its former position adjacent to the opening 46. At the same time the gripper |44 departs from the opening |46 inasmuch as it is now moving counterclockwise with the slider |39 which carries it. The cigarette is thus advanced into the crotch |69. The crotch acts as an abutment for it. The gripper |44 wipes past the crotch, so to speak, forcibly ejecting the cigarette from its entrance |5| so that the cigarette falls onto the tines |68 and rolls into the entrance 52 of the discharge chute.

It is important to observe that there is no chance of relooking the mechanism prior to the dispensation of the cigarette. During the foregoing act of dispensation the coin lever end 98 rides the top of the tooth 91 (Fig. 9). As the gripper 44 approaches the crotch |69 there is an accompanying retrogression of the tooth 91 toward the left (Fig. 9). The end 98 will drop into the recess 96 before the cavity |49 registers with the bottom of the crotch |69. In other words, the machine is relocked at 91, 98, before the cigarette in the gripper |44 is advanced far enough into the crotch |69 to be pushed out. It is thus impossible for the vendee to abstract two cigarettes for the price of one.

I claim:

1. A Vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a gripper operable to move toward and into the container to grip one of the articles and then recede from the container, abutment means past which the gripper is movable in said recession for the release of the article from the gripper to a point of disposal, and cooperating means for causing the abutment means and the gripper to move toward or away from each other.

2. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, and a linger grip device for abstracting single articles at a time, said device consisting of a gripper to reach into the container and take hold of one of the articles, abuttable means against which the gripper is operable to strike off the gripped article for its release from the finger grip device, and cooperating means for causing the abuttable means and the nger grip device to be moved relatively to each other when the gripped article is being released.'

.3. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, and a nger grip device having a remotely located two-directional movable manual lever and including gripper and abutment components mo-vable away from each other on therst movement ofthe lever and toward each other on the return movement of the lever,.

respectively to .grip oneof the articles and then to contact said article with the abutment means to displace the article from the gripper.

4. A vending machinecomprising a support for.

sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a nger grip device comprising a pair of interconnected rockable members,

one of said members having a gripper and the other member having .abutment means, anda two-directionally rockable lever having a connection with one of said members torockisaid meml bers diversely toeach other on each of the movements of saidvlever, rst to move the gripper yto- Ward and into the container toigrip one of the articles, second, to moveitheigripper out of the containerand at thesame-time move the abutment means toward the gripper, causing the gripper and abutment means vto pass each other and to displace the articlefrom the gripper by contacting with the abutment means.`

5i A vendingmachine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a pair of `interconnected and oppositely rockable-members one of which has a gripper-and the other a crotch, and a manually and Vtwo-directionally movable lever` having connection with one of said members for moving the gripper land crotch parts uponmovement of the lever in one direction `and at the same time to move the gripper into the container to grip oneof the articles, and to move said gripper and crotch toward and past each other upon the return movement of thelever, thereby advancing the article into thecrotch and shoving it out of the gripper.

6. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display positionia nger grip device consisting of a pair of interconnected and positively movable members, one of said members carrying a gripper and the other member carrying a crotch, i

a two-directionally movable manual-lever for cousing diverse movements of said members on each of the two movements of said lever, respectively to cause the gripper to reach into the container orgripping a single article and thenfor advancing said article into the erotchfor its displacement from the gripper, lock means in con-` in a display position, a finger grip device con-` sisting of a pair of oppositely turnable and interconnected members, a gripper forming part of..one of the members and abutment means forming apart ofthe other member, a two-directionally movablelever forv turning said mem.

bers upc-n movement in one of its directions thereby toswing the gripperv toward and into the container to gripan article and at the same time swingtheabutment means away, and upon 'return movement .in its other direction. to swing the gripper out of the container and the abutment means toward the gripper to meet the article and thereby displace it from the gripper,

and a yieldable element connecting the lever with one of said members, being subject to yielding only in the event of locking said members against movement` in response to the initial movement of said lever.

.8. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a pair of oppositely turnable shafts, a slider splined on each of the shafts and including arms, a gripper carried by one of rthe sliders and a two-directionally movable'lever carried .by the other slider, a member pivotally mounted on the arms of the slider ofthe lever and having abutment means to coact with the gripper., a loose connection between said member and the arms of the other slider, and a yieldabley connection between the. arms of the slider of the lever and said member, normally remaining rigid to transmit atleast one of the movements to the gripper and abutment means, and yielding only qin the event of a locking ofsaid gripper and abutment means against movement.

9. A `vending machine comprising a support for sustaining at least two containers of vendi- `ble articles in spaced apart display positions, a pair of oppositely turnable but xedly related shafts, a slider splined ,onl each of the shafts, being oppositely turnable in common with the shafts, a two-directionally movablehand lever on one of the sliders, responding to a manual movement of the lever in at leasty one direction to cause the turning ofthe sliders and shafts, a member pivotally connected to the slider of the lever and in turnhaving a loose connection with the other slider thereby consolidatingsaid member and sliders into a unit, abutment means forming part of said member, a gripper carried by said other slider, said unit being slidable as such along the shafts to position the gripper adjacent to the chosen one of the containers, and a connection between the slider of the lever and said `member converting the movement of the lever in one direction to movements of the sliders whereby the abutment means and gripper depart from each other,

said gripper then reaching into the chosen containerto grip an article, and converting the return movement of the lever in the other direction to movements of the abutment means and gripper toward each other, thereby contacting the article with the abutment means and displacing said article'from the gripper.

l0. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a discharge chute adjav,cent to the container, a gripper operable to move toward and into the container to grip one of the articlesand then recede from `the container, abutment means past which the gripper is movable insaid-recession for the release of the article from the gripper, guard means `form-ing part of y the abutment'means, being alined with the chute to -direct the released articleA thereinto, and cooperating means for `causing the gripper andabutment means to be moved relatively to each other so-that the abutment means will force the articleavvay fromthe gripper.

1l. A vending machine comprising a support for 4sustaining the container of a vendible article-in a display position', a discharge chute havy.ing an-entrance-adjacent toone-edgeV of :the

container, a gripper operable in one direction to cross said edge and reach into the container to grip one of the articles and then being operable in the other direction to lift said article over the edge, abutment means obstructing part of the path of movement of said article thereby to push said article out of the gripper, guard means forming part of the abutment means, being alined with a portion of the chute thereby to direct the article into the entrance thereof, and cooperating means for causing the gripper and abutment means to be moved relatively to each other and in operative relation so that the abutment means will force the article from the gripper.

12. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container oi a vendible article in a display position, a discharge chute, abutment means including a pair of diversely directed tines defining a ilaring crotch, a gripper consisting of a resilient fork, being two-directionally movable with respect to the abutment means, first to reach into the container and grip an article in its fork, second to introduce the article into the crotch for engagement with the abutment means and displacement from the fork, said article then moving over one of the tines and into the chute, and cooperating means for causing the gripper and abutment means to be moved relatively to each other and in operative relation so that the abutment means will force the article from the gripper.

13. A Vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a pair of turnable shafts, detent means related to one of the shafts and adapted to constitute a lock therefor, resilient means coupled to said one shaft, tending to avoid looseness in the lock, a slider splined on each oi the shafts, each of the sliders having arms, a two-directionally movable lever on one of the sliders, a member pivotally carried by said one slider, a loose connection between said member and the arms of the other slider, serving to convert said member and sliders into a unit, abutment means forming part of the member and extensions branching off from said member, a gripper carried by the other slider, being movable into the container to grip an article upon movement of the lever in one direction against the tension of said resilient means when the detent means is unlocked, and resilient means connecting said extensions with the arms of the slider of the lever, resisting expansion when said detent means is unlocked and thereby transmitting said movement of the lever to the shafts, but yielding to expansion when said detent means is locked, thereby converting said movement of the lever to an idle movement with respect to turning the shafts.

14. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a finger grip device for abstracting single articles at a time, said device including a gripper, a two-directionally manually movable lever, a series of articulated members coupling the lever to the gripper for transmitting the movement of the lever in one direction to 'the gripper for the abstraction of the article, a detent mechanism for locking the gripper against movement until the detent mechanism is displaced, and a yielding connection embodied in said articulated members allowing for an idle movement of the lever in said one direction as long 'as the detent mechanism remains locked.

15. A vending machine comprising a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article in a display position, a ringer grip device for abstracting single articles at a time, said device including a gripper, a two-directionally manually movable lever for actuating the gripper when moved in one direction, a series of articulated members coupling the lever to the gripper, a stop on one of the members, and a spring connecting said one member with its companion member, said spring holding said one member against the stop so that said one member and its companion work as a unit, and detent means adapted to assume locked and unlocked positions with respect to the gripper, respectively to prevent and permit its movement toward the container, said spring yielding only to the movement of the lever in said one direction when the gripper is locked by said detent means.

16. A vending machine comprising a gripper, means for moving said gripper in each of two directions, a support for sustaining the container of a vendible article at a pitch so as to be readily accessible to the gripper in one of its movements, a covering on the container for preventing the articles from tumbling because of said pitch, said covering being spaced back from one edge of the container to define an opening admitting the gripper, abutment means obstructing the path of the gripped article on the return movement of the gripper, displacing it from the hold of the gripper, and a filler between said container and support insuring the establishment of said opening at the proper altitude with respect to the gripper.

17, A vending machine comprising angled means for supporting the container oi' two rows of cigarettes at a pitch, a nger grip device including a gripper, a lever extending oi from said device, being movable in one plane to selectively station the gripper in front of a chosen row, said lever also being movable in another plane to actuate the finger grip device for the introduction of the gripper into the container for gripping a cigarette, and a separator inserted in the container between the rows so as 'to prevent abutting ends oi the cigarettes from interfering with the abstraction of a cigarette.

i8. A vending machine comprising a housing having a pair of longitudinal openings, a unitary dispensing mechanism removably emplaced in the housing and having matching elongated openings, supporting means embodied in said dispensing mechanism for sustaining plural rows of cigarettes in vendible positions, a iinger grip device for mechanically abstracting individual cigarettes from chosen rows, a lever extending from said device and projecting through a matching pair of openings to a point of manual access for longitudinal and depressing movements, and a chute underlying all of the rows and communicating with the remaining matching openings for delivering single cigarettes as dropped by the linger grip device.

19. A vending machine comprising a housing having a pair of longitudinal openings, a unitary dispensing mechanism removably emplaced in the housing and having matching elongated openings, supporting means embodied in said dispensing mechanism for sustaining plural rows of cigarettes in vendible positions, a finger grip device for mechanically abstracting individual cigarettes from chosen rows, a lever extending from said device and projecting through a matching pair of openings to a point of manual access for longitudinal and depressing movements, a chute underlying all of the rows and communicating with the remaining matching openings for delivering single cigarettes as dropped by the nger grip device, and lips extending from the housing opening in communication with the chute, being spaced apart to catch the cigarettes in bridging positions across the spaces.

' 20. A vending machine comprising a dispensing mechanism, said mechanism including a base plate and upstanding end plates, a pair of oppositely turnable shafts journaled on said end plates, means for supporting rows of cigarettes in vendible positions above and behind said shafts, a finger grip device splined to the shafts, being slidable therealong and including a 'gripper operable upon any row of cigarettes, a lever extending from said device, being movable in one plane to slide said device along the shafts to make a selection and then movable in another plane to actuate said gripper for the abstraction of a cigarette, a chute common in all of the rows of cigarettes for receiving the selected cigarette from the gripper, and a front plate xed in position between the end plates, said front plate having a pair of longitudinal openings respectively for the lever` and for registration with the chute, said lever opening including upstanding flanges outlining spaces in which the lever is movable in said second plane, said spaces insuring the registration of the nger grip device with a chosen row of cigarettes.

2l. A vending machine comprising a pair of turnable shafts, a toothed dog on one end of one of the shafts, a detent device releasably engaging the tooth to lock the shafts from turning while engaged but permitting turning when disengaged, a nger grip device slidable upon and splined to said shaft, said device consisting of articulated members terminating uin a hand lever at one end and a gripper at the other end, and means for supporting cigarettes in positions of access by the gripper upon movement of the gripper toward the cigarettes by operation of the lever when said detent device is unlocked.

22. In a vending machine, a turnable shaft, a

finger grip device splined to and supported in part by said shaft, the operation of said device involving the turning of the shaft, a dog attached to said shaft and having a tooth, a swingable lever having an end engageable and disengageable with respect to the tooth for locking or for releasing the shaft from and for turning, and detent means swinging into position to lock the swingable lever when said end is swung away from the tooth thereby placing the shaft in readiness for turning upon operation of the iinger grip device.

23. In a vending machine, a turnable shaft, a nger grip device splined to and supported in part by said shaft, the operation of said device involving the turning of the shaft, a dog attached to said shaft and having a tooth, a swingable lever having an end engageable and disengageable with respect t0 the tooth for locking or for releasing the shaft from and for turning, detent means swinging into position to lock said lever when said end is swung away from the tooth thereby placing the shaft in readiness for turning upon operation of the finger grip device, and a link attached to the dog and extended toward the detent means, swinging said detent means from its locked position upon said turning of the shaft thereby allowing the return of the lever end to its reengagem-ent with the tooth.

24. In a vending machine, dispensing apparatus comprising an angled support for sustaining the container of a quantity of cigarettes at a predetermined pitch, a nger grip device for abstracting single cigarettes in succeeding operations, a toothed dog embodied in the finger grip device, a releasable lever in engagement with the dog to prevent the operation of said nger grip device as long as said lever is in engagement with the dog, and means requiring the leveling of the dispensing apparatus before said linger grip device can be actuated, said Vmeans consisting of a weight pivotally supported adjacent to an end of said lever, being adapted to swing across said end to prevent the displacement of the lever until said apparatus has bee leveled. A

WILLIAM A. HARRIS. 

